Nut lock



May 4 1943- A. J.- EARLEY` 2,318,473

NUT LOCK Filed June 6, 1940 Jndrew J az'g Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANUT LOCK Andrew J .,Earley, Cambria, Va. Application June 6, 1940, serial No. 339,187

' ing I9, in the shank II, which communicates 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of nut lock and more particularly to an improved construction of latch element for keying a nut to a bolt, and to improved means for mounting the latch element to the shank portion of a bolt.

It is a particular aim of the invention to provide a construction of nut lock wherein the latch element may be readily retracted and held in a retracted position by means of a pointed instrument, such as a nail, so that the nut may be turned freely on the threaded portion of the shank in properly adjusting it relatively thereto after which the pointed instrument may be withdrawn for releasing the latch element to permit it to move into an operative position for keying the nut to the bolt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention,

Figure 2 is an end view in elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken substantially at a right angle to Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I designates generally a bolt having a shank II which is threaded at I2, adjacent its outer free end. The shank I I is provided with a slot I3 which extends from adjacent its outer end inwardly thereof to a point beyond the threaded portion I2. 'I'he shank Il, at its outer end, is provided with an opening I4 which is of substantially the same width as the slot I3 and which extends inwardly from its free end and communicates with the outer end of the slot I3. The slot I3 and the opening I4 combine to form an abutment I5 which closes the outer end of the slot I3, at its outer edge.

The slot I3 is relatively deep and relatively narrow to receive the elongated blade portion I6 of a latch element I'I which extends substantially the length of the slot I3 and which is loosely disposed therein. The blade I5, at its inner end, is formed integral with an arm I8 which projects transversely therefrom through an openwith the slot I3 at its inner end. The free end of the arm I8 is provided with a head 20 which is countersunk in the periphery of the shank II at the outer end of the opening I9 for securing the latch element I 1 at one end thereof in the shank II. The blade I6 is relatively Wide and relatively thin and tapers in width from its outer, free end to its inner, secured end. The slot I3 is of substantially the same depth throughout its length which depth is slightly greater than the width of the Widest portion of the blade I6. Blade I6 at its outer end is provided with an extension 2| which projects from its inner edge through the opening I4. The opening I4, at its edge opposite to the abutment I5, is cut on an angle, as seen at 22 to increase the width of the opening I4. The blade portion IS is formed of resilient material, such as spring metal, and is urged outwardly of the outer edge of the slot I3, by this resiliency. The outward movement of the blade portion I6 is limited by the extension 2I engaging the inner side of the abutment I5, and when thus positioned, as seen in Figure 3, the outer edge of the blade I6 projects beyond the outer, open edge of the slot I3. The blade portion I B can be retracted by engaging the extension ZI and moving it toward the edge 22 of the opening I4 to move the blade I6 inwardly of the slot I3 sufficiently, so that it is entirely disposed within said slot.

When thus positioned, a nut 23, having a threaded bore 24, may be applied to or removed from the threaded portion I2 or adjusted relatively thereto. The threaded bore 24 is provided with a plurality of spaced grooves 25, which extend across the thread of the bore 24 so that when the blade I6 is released from a retracted position to spring outwardly, it will engage the thread of the bore 24. By thenV turning the nut 23 one of the grooves 25 will be alined with the slot I3 to permit the outer edge of the blade IB to move outwardly and into engagement with this groove 25 to thereby key the nut to the threaded portion I2 to prevent it from being turned relatively to the bolt I0 until the blade portion I6 is again retracted, as heretofore described. In order to enable the nut 23 to be turned freely relatively to the threaded portion I2 of the shank II, the blade I6 may be retracted, as heretofore explained, after which a pointed instrument such as the pointed end of a nail can be inserted into the opening I4 between the abutment I5 and the extension 2| to effectively retain the latch element I1 in its retracted position to enable the nut 23 to be freely adjusted on the shank II, removed there- .from or applied thereto, after which the nail or pointed instrument, not shown, can be withdrawn to permit the blade I6 of the spring latch element I'I to spring outwardly for engaging one of the grooves 25.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to as only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

has been disclosed.A

I claim as my invention: l. In combination with a bolt having a lona gitudinal slot, and a resilient latch blade dis posed in the slot and anchored to the bolt at its inner end and adjacent the innerendl` off the slot; an abutment forming,3 a part,4v of! the bolt and bridging the outer portion of the slot,

gagement therewith yfor limiting the outward vmovement of the latch blade, one longitudinal edge of the blade being disposed outwardly of 10,the slot when the extension is in engagement :vvithf said abutment.

2L A" device as in claim 1, said last mentioned end of the slot opening outwardly of an end ofthe bolt, and said extension projecting beyond -sad end of. the bolt and being adapted to be l-manually engaged and actuated for retracting said; longitudinal edge into the slot.

ANDREW J. EARLEY. 

